A WORD FROM OUR PASTOR
I am presenting a series on the disciples of Jesus. The disciples play key parts in the earthly ministry of Jesus and the continuation of his community, the Church, after the resurrection and ascension. Each disciple comes with his own unique personality and history. None could remotely be considered perfect. Does that sound familiar?
Let’s look at James this time around. James is usually bonded with his brother John. They are fishermen from Capernaum on the Sea of Galilee. Their father, Zebedee, was a fisherman as well. James seems to be the older brother as he is usually named first.
We initially meet James and John when they are mending nets after a night of fishing with their father. Jesus has Simon Peter and Andrew in tow when he calls to the brothers to follow him. They leave the nets, the hired hands and their father in the boat and follow Jesus.
James is in the small group of disciples that is closest to Jesus, along with John, Peter and sometimes Andrew. James was present when Jesus raised the
daughter of Jairus from the dead. He climbed the mountain to witness the Transfiguration of Jesus. James was also close to Jesus when he went to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane after the Last Supper.
James was the first Apostle to be martyred for his faith. As part of a campaign of persecution against members of the early Church, King Herod Agrippa I
ordered him beheaded in 44 AD. “About that time King Herod laid violent hands upon some who belonged to the church. 2 He had James, the brother of John, killed with the sword. 3 After he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also” (Acts 12:1-3). James is the only Apostle whose death is recorded in the New Testament.
Blessings,
Pastor John